My Fab Fifties Life

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Travel Wardrobe – Seven Weeks & Nine Countries

September 6, 2024

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After a fabulously full and fun summer in Washington State it’s time for us to begin year nine of the Grand Adventure. Can you believe it? Never thought we would still be doing this nine years later, but here we are. Following year eight, we did come to the agreement however, we wanted to create shorter itineraries. So in the year ahead we have two itineraries, one is seven weeks and one is four months. We will come back to the USA for the winter holidays and leave again in January. So, it’s time to tackle the first itinerary and my travel wardrobe – seven weeks & nine countries.

Seven Weeks & Nine Countries

Preparing for this trip has been very different from any of our trips in the past. We are excited to be visiting nine countries, eight of these are new to us. Eight are also countries few people visit – but we have had these on our radar for a long time. Next Friday I will have a post with itinerary details. But for today here is where we are headed; Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan – we will travel for three weeks on our own. Next, with Intrepid Travel Group Tour, we will visit Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. We will finish this seven week itinerary with a few relaxing days in Dubai where we have been once before.

Luggage

Packing for this itinerary is unique. We will be leaving at home several of our creature comforts we usually carry including THE MUG and the French Press, as well as my yoga mat, bathroom scale, scrabble game, collapsible cooler and kitchen spices and gear. I am bringing no jewelry, no makeup and very minimal beauty care products. This is all in an effort to check only one medium bag, and carry on our backpacks.

Early this summer we replaced our trusty workhorse luggage from REI with two new REI bags. Those old REI bags have traveled approximately 400,000 miles for the past 8 and half years. We would have purchased the exact same bags, but REI no longer makes these same bags. So instead we purchased the new version.

The day we left on year one in 2016 our REI luggage -we have learned a lot about packing over the miles and years.

My luggage does not need to make a fashion statement. I do, however, need it to be functional, durable, reliable, comfortable and expandable. Our two new mustard yellow bags (won’t get those confused with other bags on the baggage carousel!) will hopefully fill these needs. The medium one (capacity 87 liters) is coming with us on this trip, the large one (capacity 109 liters) on the next trip in January.

Weather

Our seven week trip will see temperatures ranging from lower 80’s Fahrenheit to possible overnight lows in the higher elevations of 20’s Fahrenheit. This kind of temperature fluctuation creates a challenge for packing. I am packing everything from gauzy lightweight dresses to long underwear. It’s all gotta fit in one checked bag and two carry on backpacks.

What to Expect

Most of these countries are Muslim countries while a few are Orthodox Christian. Each culture has a varying degree of modesty expectations. I do not need to cover my head anywhere, however dressing modestly is a courtesy I am glad to oblige as a guest.

We will be in large beautiful cities, as well as tiny rural villages. We will visit UNESCO sites, mosques, parks, theaters, mountains and lakes. Our accommodations will include beautiful hotels, Airbnb’s, tents, yurts and home stays. What a variety!

Travel Wardrobe – Seven Weeks & Nine Countries

So finally, my wardrobe choices. As always I pack a variety of mix and match pieces to hopefully cover all scenarios. Let’s have a look.

Khaki Heavy Hiking Pants

These pants are from Zorali and new this year. They are fairly heavy so will be good in cooler temperatures. I can wear them both on the trail and in a city paired with multiple different tops and sweaters as shown here.

Navy Lightweight Hiking Pants

This is the second year for these lighter weight summer hiking pants from REI. I like the color for both wilderness or city use. I can mix and match with multiple tops and layers for whatever I need.

Cold Weather Gear

I have my fleece lined leggings from Baleaf I bought for our trip to Iceland several years ago. I love these things. If it’s really cold, these leggings with my silk long underwear are toasty and also make great pajamas if needed.

Linen Pants

I love these linen pants I bought last spring in Greece. I have worn them a lot over the summer. They are great for warm weather.

Silk cover is a perfect match and cool too

Chinos

I have been traveling with pink chinos from Talbot’s for many years, and this summer I purchased a new khaki pair. Though similar to both the linen and khaki hiking pants, the weight of these are a perfect in-between option. This will be my airplane outfit for the very long flight out of Seattle.

Something Pretty

Although I suspect pants will be my choice for active travel, I have also packed two dresses and two skirts – all four purchased new this summer.

Long Blue Dress

This dress I can wear as a sun dress or use multiple cover-ups for more modesty. I know this dress will also come with me on the next itinerary to tropical places. I purchased this from Appleseeds.

Gauzy Dress

Wow, this is so comfortable especially in humid climate. Soft and flowy material in a beautiful color, this piece from Chico’s covers both my shoulders and knees.

Two Skirts

This colorful long skirt is linen; it’s cool and comfortable. I have several tops I can mix and match with this, which is new from Talbots.

This second skirt I have worn a lot this summer and I love it. From a company called Pact, I bought it online. It is so carefree and comfortable and easy wash and wear. An absolute perfect travel piece.

What Else

From these photos you can see I have several t-shirts, two tank tops, one long sleeve t-shirt, one long sleeve linen tunic, one button down shirt and one fleece button down shirt. I will bring my raincoat and my fleece puffy coat as well as three pairs of shoes and three hats. I have one scarf and one silk cover up, both I have had in my closet for years. It’s unclear if I will have access to laundry facilities, but I can hand wash most of this wardrobe when needed.

In addition I have two sweaters. The short sleeve lime green sweater is from Talbot’s and I have been wearing this for several years now. But I wanted to point out the olive green sweater with hood, new from Paka. This is an alpaca knit pullover hoodie sweater. So warm and I am hopeful it will be useful for hiking, walking and even sleeping.

Let’s Go

I’m ready to go, and ready to test drive this new and reduced travel wardrobe. Also reduced packing in general in our brand new luggage. I hope you will come back next Friday to see the full itinerary of our upcoming trip. I’m ready to share this exciting adventure. Let’s Go.

Thanks for reading my post Travel Wardrobe Seven Weeks & Nine Countries. We appreciate it when you comment, share and pin our blog posts. Thank you.

See last week’s post A Visit to Seattle’s Pike Place Market

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Reading Wednesday

Book Review Martyr by Kaveh Akbar

September 4, 2024

Laureen

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Breathtaking and poetic writing captured me from page one in Kaveh Akbar’s novel Martyr. My dream is to write like this…in sentences that pull the reader in, take your breath away, make your heart flutter. Here is my book review Martyr by Kaveh Akbar.

The Art of Language

There are thousands of really good writers. And then there are the masters. Akbar’s first novel, Martyr is a mastering of the art of language. Akbar has previously been an award winning poet, and that comes through in his masterful novel Martyr. I listened to this book on Audible and was mesmerized. It’s not a happy story. But it is beautiful. I have no doubt it would be just as beautiful for a reader as it was for a listener.

Welcome to America

Cyrus Shams, an Iranian young man, moved to America as a child with his father. He has struggled through his life with the tragic knowledge that his mother died on commercial plane, shot down by Americans over the Persian Gulf. Cyrus’ father struggles to provide as a single father, but gets Cyrus into college before his life ends too.

Cyrus finds himself depressed, addicted and drifting, searching for something he doesn’t understand. With a handful of friends Cyrus get’s sober, but can’t stop thinking about suicide and what it means to be a Martyr. Though his story is full of troubles and trials, Akbar in turn writes with humor and hope, passion and reflection.

A Writer Himself

Our protagonist Cyrus is a poet himself, much like the author. His obsession to write a book about martyrdom leads him to the Brooklyn Museum to meet a terminally ill artist who is spending her final days holding audience with museum guests. This encounter for Cyrus affirms in him many ideas about things he has been conflicted with all his life; war, poetry, addiction, love, gender, family and martyrdom. The four short days Cyrus has with the artist will change his life and create affirmation for him like nothing else before.

Stunning

I found this book stunning. I want to read it again, and that never happens. Destined to be highly awarded novel of 2024, I can’t wait to see how many awards this masterpiece takes.

My favorite book so far this year. ***** Five stars and more. Thank you for reading my book review Martyr by Kaveh Akbar.

Be sure and see our favorite books of the past year with our Seventh Annual Reading Round Up 2024.

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A Visit to Seattle’s Pike Place Market

August 23, 2024

Laureen

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Location: Seattle Washington USA

Since I was born and raised in the great Puget Sound area, and I spend my summer in our home on the Kitsap Peninsula, the Pike Place Market has always been part of my life. As I child, we used to ride the ferry from Bremerton alone, (as young as ten years old) and spend the day wandering around the market, the Seattle Center and the Seattle waterfront. Seems crazy to think of allowing a ten-year old to do that now, but a visit to Seattle’s Pike Place Market was common – and we did!

That’s me at the iconic Public Market sign

Back in the Day

Back in the 1970’s when I was a kid, the market wasn’t so crowded, and not so many tourists as today. Did you know the Pike Place Market was founded in 1907, and is one of the oldest and largest continuously operating public markets in the United States? For generations farmers from far and wide brought their goods to sell at the market. Seattle loves this market and has fought to preserve it over the decades.

Drop some coins in the “piggy” bank to help the Pike Place Market Foundation

In 1971, Seattle citizens voted to create a Pike Place Market Historic District and the Market Historical Commission to preserve the Market’s physical and unique social character.

In the 1980’s the Pike Place Market Foundation was created to help fund and preserve the market. It was during this period that the popular Pike Place Market tiles were sold. Today as you walk the market thousands of these tiles showcase the names of market supporters.

Despite my lifelong love of a visit to Seattle’s Pike Place Market, it must be said that the market feels more of a tourist destination today than the market of my youth. And yet, there is something about this eclectic space in the middle of a bustling city that continues to draw locals alongside cruise visitors, day-trippers and tourists. A Visit to Seattle’s Pike Place Market is a must.

The Finest Produce

I can’t begin to say how many times I have wandered around the market. In a previous life I had a catering business and I would get all my produce at the market the morning of a catering job. Today I still love to pick up produce from one of the market’s longest operating vendors Sosio’s Fruit and Produce. Socio’s opened in 1943 and the current owners took over in 1990. It has been my go-to produce vendor for 48 years.

Socio’s is compact but the produce and the service are top notich

The Freshest Seafood

Although it’s lots of fun to visit Pike Place Fish Company and watch them throw the salmon with all the tourists, it’s a little too crowded for my tastes. So for decades my favorite place to buy any seafood at the market has been Pure Food Fish Market, established in 1911. Here I can find beautiful fresh fish, Dungeness crab, steamer clams and on my last visit they had the most beautiful fresh squid.

My favorite fish monger is Pure Food Fish

Perfecto Italian Specialty Foods

One of my preferred places to visit at the market is DeLaurenti’s…I never miss going in there. The history of DeLaurenti’s is a wonderful story so read about it here and be sure to visit. I love their cheese counter, always buy a couple of dolmades to pop in my mouth, and usually come home with olive oil, gnocchi and chocolate. Whatever you do don’t miss the upstairs wine room.

Fresh Baked

When my kids were still living at home, I always would stop at Pike Place Bakery and bring home a GIANT donut for each of them. These delicious treats are the size of a plate! Back in the day I paid $2 each. Today, like everything else, they are much more expensive ($8) but still worth it. They usually sell out so get there early.

Crafts and More

In addition to the wonderful food stuff at the market, you will also find a large selection of craft items, most locally made in the Pacific Northwest. When I was getting married, I went to the Pike Place Market and visited all the craft vendors. It was here I purchased gifts for each of my bridesmaids.

Craft area is very crowded when I visited recently on a Sunday

Restaurants

Two of my all time favorite restaurants in all of the world call The Pike Place Market home. You can find both The Pink Door and Cafe Campagne in Post Alley. Both of these delicious and unique eateries have been providing diners delicious and fresh foods for decades; The Pink Door since 1981 and Cafe Campagne since 1994. They are Seattle icons both.

Bastille Day Celebration at Cafe Campagne

Recently I had a meal at Half Shell, a Tom Douglas restaurant in the market formerly called Ettas’s. It was excellent and I will be back. A small but fresh and seasonal menu with the best oysters I have had in a really long time.

Pike Place Brewing is a great place to stop and have a cold one, or also a meal. We usually kill some time here, sitting at the bar for a beer or cocktail whenever we make a visit to Seattle’s Pike Place Market.

There are so many places to get great food both in and near the market. See a larger list here.

First Timer?

If you are visiting Seattle’s Pike Place Market for the first time, I recommend trying to come on a week day. But in the summer it will be crowded on any day. Tours are available of the market by verified third party vendors. Food tours, history tours and even ghost tours are some of the options. Check out Get Your Guide and Viator.

Be sure and head down to the lower level of the market

If you don’t have the time for a tour, just be sure to make your way to the lower level of the market, known as the Shops Down Under. This is a part of the market so many people miss. Eclectic shops with hidden treasures and it will be much less crowded.

There are some great facts about the market you might enjoy reading about. So learn more at 16 Things You May Not Know About the Pike Place Market.

A Few Other Things

If I need a coffee when I am at the market I like to hit up Pike Street Coffee. It is really one of the best cups of coffee in Seattle. And, considering the coffee culture in Seattle that is saying a lot.

As of this writing, Starbucks has closed their shop in the market, which was popular with tourists for it’s historic value. No news as to when it might reopen. But, since you are in Seattle there is a Starbucks on nearly every corner, including the corner of First and Pine.

So what is up with this gum wall? Yeah it’s kinda disgusting, but everybody loves it too. The Gum Wall started in the 1990s when local patrons and performers at Unexpected Productions stuck their used gum on the wall. Since those days, the wall has grown piece by piece to cover an enormous expanse of brick and continues to expand down Post Alley. In 2019 the wall was stripped of all gum and cleaned by the Pike Place Preservation Society. But of course, all the gum is back – in fact even more. Once a gum wall, always a gum wall.

A Visit to Seattle’s Pike Place Market

Seattle is undergoing a bit of a renaissance, particularly from the waterfront area to the Pike Place Market. After years of construction the new and improved waterfront is nearly complete. It includes a brand new ferry terminal and aquarium. The main thoroughfare, Alaska Way, was moved to accommodate the new aquarium which will include a pedestrian walkway flyover to the Pike Place Market. In addition to this new access pedestrians can also go between the market and the waterfront on the Harbor Steps, the Pike Street Hill Climb and the elevator from the Pike Market parking Garage.

If you haven’t been to Seattle lately, it’s time to see all the changes

The historic Pike Place Market holds a very special place in my heart as a life long resident of the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Whether you are a local or a first time visitor, it’s a must when in Seattle, any time of year.

Thanks for reading my post A Visit to Seattle’s Pike Place Market. We are grateful when you pin, share and comment on our blog posts. Thank you! See you at the market.

Be sure and see last week’s post A Magical Transformation of my Laundry Room. Also don’t miss My Favorite Hike in Washington State.

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At Home -- Inspire

A Magical Transformation of my Laundry Room

August 16, 2024

Laureen

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Location: At Home, USA

My husband and I are many things; happily married, parents to great kids, active outdoors people, travel gurus and do-it-yourselfers. To name a few. And each summer we tackle some kind of do-it-yourself project around our house when we are home from our travels. This year we did a magical transformation of my laundry room.

We purchased a small home five years ago (sight unseen), after not owning a home for a little more than three years. We absolutely love this house, and it is a perfect place to come home to and enjoy our summers in the Pacific Northwest. It’s also easy to lock and walk away when we do our extended long term travel. Our first year we did aesthetic updates to the 1990’s space in the kitchen, living, dining, and master bedroom. See our blog post about that project here. Year two we gutted and did a beautiful new master bathroom See our blog post about that amazing transformation here. Year three we spent most the summer working in the yard. Last year we painted all the interior doors, added some accent wall color and some chair rail. And this summer we did a magical transformation of my laundry room, adding significant storage and fabulous color!

A Magical Transformation of my Laundry Room

Hubs and I have a great system when it comes to both travel planning AND house projects. I’m the vision and he is the braun. That’s not to say I don’t do any labor, but on this small laundry room, it was hard to have two people in the room at one time, so he did the majority of the labor.

Here is what the space looked like before we started. It was definitely functional, but the weird tiny closet was a waste, the cabinets were not what I like and I knew we could do better.

Here are a few of the images I had saved to Pinterest. These were my inspiration and helped me build my vision for this space. When you see the after photos, you can tell me how you think I did on achieving my vision.

I like this countertop and colored cabinets

I like a stackable washer and dryer and love the rug

Let’s Make It Happen

This project took three months because we had lots of other fun stuff going on this summer, and we made sure fun was our priority. It also took six weeks to get the cabinets. While we waited on the cabinets (which are by KraftMaid and we ordered from Home Depot), we did all the prep – starting with tear out, including removing the tiny closet which opened the space up and created lots more options.

Getting old cabinets out and doing wall repair

Paint

Next we painted a sunny yellow on the walls and then added a ship-lap ceiling and wall detail with a ledge for a decorative look. The ledge includes hooks which we will use for lots of things as we come in and out of our garage into the laundry room. The white ceiling and crown molding helps make the space seem bigger and taller!

Washer Dryer

Next step was moving the dryer vent and then installing the new stack able washer and dryer. This was a big job and my husband knocked it out of the park. It wasn’t easy though and involved cutting a hole in the floor and crawling around in the crawl space under our house. He removed the vinyl woodlook floor we installed five years ago while doing this work…but was able to reinstall it all when he was done.

Cabinets

FINALLY the cabinets arrived and holy cow they were heavy. We managed – but barely. Sheesh. They turned out great. I love the color, which looks more gray in these photos than it actually is . The color is called Serenity and it is a blue green. Adding the toe kick, trim and baseboards finishes everything nicely.

Many important details I wanted like this

Finishes

We chose a butcher block counter top because I love the look. We added a light taupe stain and sealed it with polyurethane before installing this beautiful Kohler and VERY heavy cast iron sink and tall faucet. Unfortunately the first sink arrived with a big chip, but Home Depot got us another one very quickly. While we waited Arne added another outlet on the wall near the sink…I think that will be useful.

I did this little silhouette stencil on this big wall to soften the bright yellow a bit before Arne added the tile back splash. Truthfully I don’t love the stencil…but gonna leave it for now. I might paint over it down the road. We used just simple subway tile with a grout color that ties in the the butcher block, floor and door color. Added the drawer pulls – we were able to reuse the ones we had on the old cabinets but had to purchase a few more to finish it off.

Time for the Final Touches

Let me get at it! My favorite part. Hanging art, adding some plants and lots of eye candy. Love this new rug that ties all the colors together. It’s gonna take some time to figure out where everything is gonna live in this huge space, but I’m excited to bring things in that I have been storing in the garage and move other things in that are too tightly packed into my kitchen. This added storage is a real game changer for a small house and I am absolutely thrilled with how it has turned out.

This is perfect. I ordered it on Etsy from www.mrwatsondesign.etsy.com I love it.

Remember?

Here is the before;

And here is the after;

My step stool is accessible both from the kitchen and the laundry room

Success

Another successful do-it-yourself project complete – a magical transformation of my laundry room. What’s our next project? Well other than cleaning and reorganizing the garage, I think we might be done. At least for a few years.

I hope we have inspired you to tackle a do-it- yourself project. Not only does it save lots of money, it also can be very rewarding with a great sense of accomplishment. We spent about $ 15,000 on this project – $12,000 on the cabinets. We could have spent less on the cabinets, but chose to invest in high quality to fulfill our storage needs. This transformation would have cost about $40,000 or more if we had not done it on our own. Thanks for reading my post A Magical Transformation of my Laundry Room. See last week’s post My Favorite Hike in Washington State.

I’m always grateful for your comments and shares. Thank you.

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At Home -- North America Travel

My Favorite Hike in Washington State

Tolmie Peak Mount Rainier National Park

August 9, 2024

Laureen

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I’m doubly blessed to be able to travel around the world, and yet spend my summers in the glorious Pacific Northwest. There is no place like it in the summer. Born and raised here, I took it for granted for most of my life. Only with maturity have I embraced and celebrated it’s unique beauty. My husband and I started hiking regularly during Covid…after setting it aside for years. Once we got started again we set out to discover and rediscover the best hikes in the region. And thanks to my friend Julie, I found my favorite hike in Washington State – Tolmie Peak in Mount Rainier National Park.

Mount Rainier National Park

We did a lot of hiking when I was a child, most of it in the Olympic National Park area close to our home on the Kitsap Peninsula. I still have a home on the Kitsap Peninsula, and we hike often in the Olympic Peninsula. But Mount Rainier is only a couple of hours away, and the Tolmie Peak hike is entered via the Carbon River entrance, so you don’t need to worry about the new reservation system at Paradise or Sunrise.

Eunice Lake below and Rainier to the South

Mount Rainier National Park has an abundance of hikes for the novice to the expert. From day hikes to multi-day treks whatever you desire it’s here. Tolmie is perfect for anyone with a little bit of hiking experience looking for a spectacular view. Round trip its about 5.5 miles with a 1500 foot elevation gain. The trail is well cared for and you’ll be accompanied by lots of other nature lovers. Weekdays are generally not too busy so try not to go on a weekend in the summer. The trail usually opens shortly after the 4th of July and stays open until late September.

Why I Love Tolmie

This is a hike I feel confident doing solo. I feel safe and I know it’s within my skill level. It’s easy to decide to stop at Eunice Lake, especially when you look up to the peak. It can look daunting. But in reality, the portion of the hike that puts you out at Eunice Lake is much more difficult than the next mile up to the peak. Whatever you do, don’t give up at Eunice Lake. Finish the trek and you will not regret it when you see the view. The last time I hiked to Tolmie it was a crystal clear day and not only did I enjoy the Rainier view but I had the clearest view of Mount Saint Helens I have ever seen from the peak. It’s also easy to see Mount Baker to the north.

What You Need to Know

To get to Tolmie drive towards Enumclaw through Bonney Lake. Just before reaching Buckley, go right on Mundy Loss Road. Follow Highway 165 to the historic coal mining villages of Wilkeson and Carbonado. From Carbonado it’s 4 miles to where the pavement ends. Here you will follow a gravel road another 11 miles. It usually takes 35-45 minutes depending on the traffic. Don’t bother washing your car the day before this drive.

When you reach Mowich Lake, you can park near the campground or on the gravel road. Access the trail either at the campground or off the gravel road where a sign marks the trail. The first part of the trail runs along the beautiful blue Mowich Lake before heading off into the wilderness for two miles to Eunice Lake. Another mile up to the peak.

There is another hike out of the Mowich Campground called Spray Park. Also very beautiful especially when the wildflowers are peaking.

What to Bring

Be sure to bring sunscreen, mosquito repellent, a hat and lots of water. I always eat my lunch at the top before meandering back down to the car. Take your time; there is spectacular bird watching along the trail. Last summer I saw a bear eating berries about 50 yards off the trail in a meadow.

Be sure to pack out everything you bring in. There are no public facilities on the trail.

You will need a National Park Pass. If you don’t have an annual pass you can get a pass in a self-pay station at Paul’s Peak shortly before arriving at Mowich Lake.

My Favorite Hike in Washington State

We have hiked a lot over the decades and there is just something about this hike that makes my heart sing. There is no better view in the world – and I have seen a lot of the world. Mount Rainier is my Queen, my Church, my Goddess. She is inspiring. I hope you will do this hike on a sunny day and see why I love it so very much.

Thanks for reading my post My Favorite Hike in Washington State – Tolmie Peak Mount Rainier National Park. We love it when you pin, share and comment on our blog posts. Thank you.

Be sure and see last week’s post Tracking Trolls in the Pacific Northwest.

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At Home -- North America Travel

Tracking Trolls in the Pacific Northwest

The Way of the Bird King

August 2, 2024

Laureen

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Location: Pacific Northwest

I’ve been a big fan of Thomas Dambo ever since I visited the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens and was introduced to his magic there. The blog post I wrote about the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is one of the most popular I’ve ever written. Check it out here. I also visited the Atlanta Botanical Gardens while in Georgia and enjoyed more of his recycled art work there. I was really excited when five of these amazing nature themed sculptures came to the Seattle/Puget Sound region (a 6th is in Portland Oregon). So I went tracking trolls in the Pacific Northwest.

Taking a nap at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens

I love this one at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens

Who is Thomas Dambo

I am intrigued by this man and his mission. In his own words…

I’m Thomas Dambo, Danish recycling artist. Our world is drowning in trash while we are running out of natural resources.
In 2011 I quit my job to become an artist and follow my mission to ‘Waste no more’.

Today, I spend my life showing the world that beautiful things can be made out of trash. I give new life to discarded materials by turning them into large-scale artworks. My journey has led me to create artworks in 20 countries across five continents, including my giant Trolls, plastic works, birdhouses, and Happy Wall exhibitions. All these projects are realized using hundreds of tons of recycled materials, working in and with local communities, who are co-creators of the art that I make because the mission I follow needs the involvement of everybody. I also host talks as a speaker, such as TEDx talk, and sometimes I host workshops to teach people how to reuse and upcycle.

If you want to join my mission, follow me on YouTube, Instagram or Facebook.

The Way of the Bird King – NW Trolls

Before visiting the local trolls in the Puget Sound region you really need to visit the amazing website NW Trolls. You can learn a lot of interesting information and find a map of the trolls too. I was intrigued to learn why the Scan Design Foundation chose to present this outdoor art exhibit to the region. Here is more…

This ambitious public art project is presented by Scan Design Foundation, whose mission is to support Danish-American relations with a focus on environmental sustainability.NWTrolls: Way of the Bird King features six giant hand-built troll sculptures by Danish environmental artist, Thomas Dambo. The publicly-accessible sculptures are located around the Pacific Northwest where each whimsical troll sculpture is part of an underlying environmental story. The project celebrates the human experience of art by amplifying the connections of cultural heritage between Coast Salish tribal communities and Scandinavian traditions. Thanks to our funding partners and host site partners, there is no admission fee to visit any of the trolls.

Everyone loves Pea the Peacekeeper on Bainbridge Island

Tracking Trolls in the Pacific Northwest

I started my treasure hunt a year ago. The six trolls (five in the Seattle area and one in Portland) were built on each site during the spring and early summer of 2023. We visited our first troll on Bainbridge Island, which is about 40 minutes from my home where we spend our summers.

Pea the Peacekeeper

Sakai Park, Bainbridge Island

Learn more and find Pia here.

I loved Pea’s hair made from found sticks in the nearby forest

Last September on the day we were headed to the airport to begin 8 months of travel, we took some time in West Seattle to find our second troll. One of the smaller trolls in the collection, Bruun is hiding in plan sight near the Lincoln Park waterfront.

Bruun Idun

Lincoln Park, West Seattle

Find Bruun here

Summer 2024

Back in the USA for the summer I made a commitment to find the three remaining trolls close to my home. I won’t be able to get to the Portland one this year. Since our adult sons live in the Ballard area, it was easy to find this little man, standing sentry outside the amazing Ballard Nordic Heritage Museum.

Frankie Feetsplinters

Nordic Heritage Museum, Ballard

Find Frankie here

Make day trip to Vashon Island to find the next troll, which is exactly what we did on a beautiful July day. Three ferries make their way to the close yet remote island; Fauntleroy in West Seattle, Point Defiance in Tacoma and Southworth in Port Orchard on the Kitsap Peninsula. Vashon may seem far away, but it really isn’t and meeting magnificent Oscar the Bird King is worth it. I think this one is my favorites.

Oscar the Bird King

Point Robinson Park, Vashon Island

Find Oscar here

I made my way to the beautiful community of Issaquah to find my last troll of my Tracking Trolls in the Pacific Northwest Journey. I lived and worked in Issaquah 35 years ago…wow just saying that blows my mind. But still today this community and it’s people hold a special place in my heart. And now so does Jakob.

Jakob Two Trees

Rainier Trail, Issaquah Community Center, Issaquah

Find Jakob here

Jakob Two Trees, hidden but easy to get to

Troll Life

The trolls will be in their respective homes for about three years…some longer depending on if they are being cared for. Since each troll is constructed from natural and recycled material, the local weather will determine their life length. Since I didn’t get down to Portland this summer, I hope to visit that troll, Ole Bolle, next summer.

Seattle’s Original Troll

Still holding court, now for more than 30 years, is Seattle’s favorite son – the Fremont Troll. A favorite of locals and some visitors too if they know where to find him. I couldn’t write a troll post without mentioning this one-eyed monster we all know and love. Have you visited the original troll under the Fremont Bridge?

The Fremont Troll

Find the Fremont Troll N. 36th Street at Troll Avenue N., under the north end of the George Washington Memorial Bridge (also known as the Aurora Bridge).

What’s Next?

Dambo’s popularity continues to grow around the United States. Many communities are now home to his whimsical trolls. I’m personally hoping for more Dambo Trolls in the Pacific Northwest over the next few years. They just make me happy!

Thank you for reading my post Tracking Trolls in the Pacific Northwest. I hope you can find some trolls too. Be sure to come back next week for My Favorite Hike in Washington State.

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Reading Wednesday

Seventh Annual Reading Round Up 2024

Best Books of the Year

July 31, 2024

Laureen

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As you likely know if you have been following all these years, I track my reading year from July to July. Nothing fancy, just keep a little tally in my notebook of all the books I read. This year I read 77 books, (eight more than last year) and today I will share with you some of my favorites for the Seventh Annual Reading Round Up 2024.

Over the past year I have written 53 book reviews, pulling into reviews my favorites of the 77 books. Most of my reading is done on my Kindle while traveling, a few hardback and paperback and a few more on Audible. I like Audible for car trips, mostly because I can’t stand listening to the news on the radio anymore!

So as in the past several years, I’m sharing my most favorites from July 23 to July 24. I have a top ten list, and ten honorable mentions too. Some outstanding novels, biographies, historical non-fiction, as well as Booker and Pulitzer finalists. Other than the number one slot, Tom Lake by Ann Patchett, the books are in no particular order. So here we go, my Seventh Annual Reading Round Up 2024;

My Top Ten

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett – I really loved this story. I have loved many Patchett books but not all. However, I think this is my favorite of all her works. If you haven’t read it, you should. My favorite book of the past year.
Lady Tans Circle of Friends by Lisa See – I have read several of Lisa See’s novels, and I really enjoy the way she brings historic figures into a novel, teaches her readers something new, and entertains all at once.
The Editor by Steven Rowley – Rowley has a fun and empathetic writing style that I loved in his Guncle books. In this book, we follow an imaginary story of an author and his editor Jackie Onassis. It made me cry.
The Armour of Light by Ken Follett – If you have been paying attention, you know I am a huge Ken Follett fan, particularly of his Kingsbridge series. This latest installment, the fifth, is as brilliant as ever in research and storytelling. If you are new to these books, start with Pillars of the Earth.
Absolution – Alice McDermott – I really loved this book, by a new to me author. A story of American women in the early 1960’s who are stationed with their husbands in pre-war Vietnam. It really struck a chord with me.
Possession by A.S. Byatt – This Booker Prize-winning book is old, and I am astonished I had never read it. It’s also long, and made for a great Audible on a long car trip in Australia. Byatt, recently passed away, was a brilliant storyteller and everyone should read this beautiful book.
Still Life by Sarah Winman – Super fun read, a refreshing new plot and great character development. Still Life is post WWII Italy, full of friendships, love, family and one blue parrot. A great read.
Northwoods by Daniel Mason – Such a great story, and so fun to see an author create something so new and fresh. It is a generational story of a piece of land, rather than a family line – peppered with great characters in human, wildlife, flora and supernatural persuasions. Definely a of fav of the year.
Loot by Tania James – Another one I really loved for it’s unique story. James creates a fictional tale around a real work of art, that is intriguing and very satisfying too.
A Wide Wide Sea by Hampton Sides – another favorite of the year was an audible, we listened to while driving around Serbia. It was a remarkable true story of the life and death of Captain James Cook. Absolutely fascinating. Highly recommend.

More I loved

In addition to my top ten above, these ten more were fabulous!

Sacred Hunger by Barry Unsworth – Mind Blowing

The Art Thief by Michael Finkle – True Crime

Chenneville by Paulette Jiles – Heartfelt

March by Geraldine Brooks – A new twist on an old story

Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride – Fantastic characters

The Samurai’s Garden by Gail Tsukiyama – Beautiful

Lincoln on the Verge by Ted Widmer – What if he hadn’t made it?

James by Percival Everett – Rethinking a classic

The Women – Kristin Hannah’s best so far

In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson – Hilarious

Summer Break

I’m taking a little summer break from writing, but not from reading! So I’ll be back soon with more weekly Reading Wednesday Book Reviews. Meanwhile, I hope you can find your next great read on this list AND let me know what you think of this list, as well as any recommendations you have for me. I love hearing your ideas and suggestions. Reading is definitely part of My Fab Fifties Life, and is a great way to see the world without ever leaving home. Thank you for reading my Seventh Annual Reading Round Up 2024.

I would greatly appreciate it if you commented on this blog post, shared it with friends and family and on any and all social platforms you might engage with. It helps me so much to beat the crazy algorithm. Thank you – and GO READ A BOOK!

See last week’s book review The Phoenix Crown by Kate Quinn and Janie Chang

Check out my 2023 Favorite book of the year The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

And you might like my 2022 Favorite book of the year Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr

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Follow us as we inspire you to live your best life now. We find inspiration in our Retired Midlife through travel and learning new cultures, writing and reading! What inspires you? I am a retired Grey Goddess on the Go, here to empower and inspire you through your Fabulous middle years! We write regular travel posts and book reviews and have been sharing this blog for 12 years!! Join our club and be fabulous too! You can find us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Threads. My Fab Fifties Life!